Theme: Embracing Change, Empowering Action Uniting for a Sustainable Future.

In a world where the urgency of addressing climate change has reached a critical juncture, our collective responsibility to safeguard the planet has never been more pressing. As we stand on the precipice of a climate crisis, the need to accelerate our efforts and rally together has become paramount. The TEDx Climate Countdown conference serves as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change, igniting a global movement that transcends borders, backgrounds, and beliefs.

Our motivation stems from a profound recognition that the time for complacency has passed. We are driven by the knowledge that every minute counts, every decision matters, and every individual possesses the power to make a difference. The conference is more than just a platform; it is a call to action that resonates with the shared values of our diverse and interconnected world.

Through visionary speakers from across the world, thought-provoking discussions, and innovative solutions, TEDx Climate Countdown will inspire and empower a generation to reimagine the way we interact with our environment. We believe in the potential of technology, science, policy, and creativity to create a sustainable equilibrium between human progress and ecological harmony. By harnessing the collective intelligence and passion of individuals, communities, and industries, we are poised to usher in an era of transformative change.

Join us and be part of the solution!!

kigali Convention Center
KN 3 Ave
Kigali, Ville de Kigali, 250
Rwanda

Dr. Agnes Kalibata Kalibata

President AGRA

Dr. Kalibata has served as the President of AGRA since 2014, where she leads the organization’s efforts with public and private partners to ensure a food-secure and prosperous Africa through rapid, inclusive, sustainable agricultural growth, improving the productivity and livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers in Africa. From 2019-2021, Dr. Kalibata also served as the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, a catalytic process at the start of the Decade of Action to improve food systems around the world to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement. Prior to joining AGRA, Dr. Kalibata was Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) from 2008 to 2014, where she drove programs that moved her country from a food insecure to a food secure status and became a reference point for other countries that sought to deliver agriculture transformation.

Dr. Claudine Uwera

Minister of Environment, of the Republic of Rwanda.

Dr. Claudine Uwera is currently the Minister of State for the Environment in the Ministry of Environment. From April 6, 2018 to August 22, 2023, Dr. Uwera was the Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN). Before joining the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uwera was the National Coordinator of the “Rwanda Natural Capital Accounting Program” (NCA). Rwanda was one of the World Bank’s pilot countries for “Natural Capital Accounting program". NCA is an important tool aiming to broaden the measuring of economic progress (GDP) by incorporating national capital wealth, environmental degradation cost and assets into the System of National Accounts (SNA). Dr. Claudine Uwera is an Environmental Economist. She did her PhD studies in Sweden where she gained a high experience by working closely with the environmental economists’ team of the University of Gothenburg, from 2008 and 2013.

Dr. Diane Karusisi

CEO, Bank of Kigali Plc

Dr. Diane Karusisi is the CEO of Bank of Kigali Plc, Rwanda's largest commercial bank. She led the bank's digital transformation and expansion of BK Group into General Insurance, Investment Banking, and Technology. With a background in economics, she held key positions at the National Institute of Statistics and the office of the President of Rwanda. Dr. Karusisi serves as a non-executive director on various boards, including Rwanda Development Board and the University of Rwanda. Her leadership drives growth and innovation, making her a respected figure in Rwanda's financial industry.

Dr. NKAMUHAYO RWACUMIKA (AKA) KIHURA NKUBA

Pan-African Historian, Broadcaster, Economist and Philosopher

Known Kihura Nkuba, is one of the continent’s most popular Pan African Historian, Broadcaster, Economist, and Philosopher. He has lectured at many institutions worldwide and is very well-known in Pan-African leadership as a strategist, historian, and radical philosopher. For more than twenty years Kihura Nkuba has been at the forefront of a cultural renaissance in Eastern, Southern and Central Africa. “He was a regular lecturer at the Army’s Senior Command and Staff College for East African Countries in Kimaka, the Senior Police Training College Kabalya, Makerere University, Nkosizi University many village and urban institutions, Lagoon University Ghana, City College New York, Eindhoven University, Keynote speaker at the Opening of the Roots Home Coming Festival Gambia, Keynote Speaker at the Southern African Broadcasting Association in Swaziland, Keynote Speaker at the conference of African Police Chiefs in Kampala. He lectures on Africa as the origin of humanity.

Felix Yvan

Chief Strategy Officer at the Rwanda Green Fund

Felix Yvan is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Rwanda Green Fund. He leads the development, communication, execution, and sustainability of the Fund’s corporate strategic initiatives, focusing on resource mobilization. Offering expert guidance on sustainability risks, he integrates best practices and standards into designing, preparing, implementing, and supervising the Fund’s operations. Before this appointment, he worked with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation where he was in charge of partnerships for Africa. Before this, he worked with the German Multinational, Beiersdorf AG, as a Business Development Manager for Rwanda and later as the Key Accounts Manager at the cluster headquarters. Alongside other experts in trade facilitation, Felix Yvan contributes to articles for the UN/CEFACT. He also represents Rwanda on the Strategic Trust Fund of the CIF in Washington, DC. Felix Yvan holds a Master's in International Development from the University of Manchester.

H.E. Belén Calvo Uyarra

Ambassador of European Union in Rwanda.

Belén Calvo Uyarra serves as Ambassador to Rwanda since September 2022. She is committed to further deepen and expand the already strong partnership between the EU and Rwanda, together with the excellent and dedicated team at the European Union Delegation. Ambassador Belén Calvo Uyarra is a European Union public servant since 2001. She served in the European Commission – DG Development, before joining the EU External Action Service in the EU Delegations to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Liberia and South Africa. Between 2020 and 2022 she was detached to the Cabinet of the Spanish Ministers of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, as Senior advisor for Africa. She has worked over twenty years in Africa and with Africa and she is eager to continue learning on this journey.

H.E. Omar Daair

British High Commissioner to Rwanda|Ambassador to Burundi

Omar Daair was appointed as the British High Commissioner to Rwanda and non-resident Ambassador to Burundi in January 2021, and started the role in July of the same year. Omar joined the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in 2002. His career has largely focused on Africa, including roles as Private Secretary to the Minister for Africa and Deputy Head of Africa Department (East & West), as well as overseas postings to Sudan (2005 to 2008) and South Sudan (2010 to 2011). He has also worked on NATO policy and national security issues, and was posted to Washington, DC (2011 to 2014). Omar’s most recent role before moving to Kigali was as Head of Europe Department, leading EU Exit related development work in London. Omar is a graduate of the London School of Economics and the School of Oriental and African Studies. He also holds a Masters of Public Administration from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University.

ISH KEVIN

Artist

Kigali native, Ish Kevin, has been cast as the architect of a new Rwandan cultural movement - a localized trap genre with global ambitions. The rapper, songwriter, digital influencer, and entrepreneur (he has founded his recording studio) has cast himself as a hero of this zeitgeist, seizing opportunities created by technology, and crafting a new future with the grit of his teeth with songs that encourage a next gen hustle. The single, “No Cap”, a sturdy banger acclaimed as one of the hardest Drill songs of the year by GRM Daily, helped to build Ish Kevin’s popularity, leading up to his recent, Stadium-sized, headlining concert. His latest release “Trappish2”, a seven-track mixtape, features several well-known musicians locally and internationally. Ish Kevin’s lyricism has been recognized globally with a nomination in the Senegalese-based Galsen Hip Hop Awards.

JEAN DEDIEU MrKAYIRANGA

Analyst and specialist on justice, Human Rights, and Peace.

Analyst and specialist on justice, Human Rights, and Peace.

Mr. Bernardin Uzayisaba

Specialist in Sustainable Growth and Climate Change.

Bernardin Uzayisaba, currently leading as the Programme Specialist and Head of the Sustainable Growth Unit at UNDP-Rwanda, boasts over a decade of expertise in the environmental and climate change fields. His professional journey includes significant roles such as a program analyst at UNDP since 2012, an urban environmental specialist with the Rwanda Housing Authority, and an academic secretary at the Catholic Institute of Kabgayi. Armed with an MSc in Climate Change, Development, and Policy from the University of Sussex and an MSc in Water Resources and Environmental Management from the University of Rwanda, Bernardin is proficient in both English and French. He is passionately dedicated to fostering sustainable, inclusive, and green climate-resilient development. Bernardin's extensive experience in program and team management, coupled with his educational background,renders him an invaluable contributor to the realms of climate change, Energy, natural resources and environmental

Mr. KIRENGA Clement

Inclusive Governance Specialist

Educated in Social Sciences in Gender and Development and Law with 24 years of experience in programme management in international, regional, and national development programmes, especially in Inclusive Governance, democratic governance and Human Rights, poverty reduction, media development and above all, a known passionate gender and disability inclusion enthusiast. He has worked in the Embassy and International Non-Governmental Organisations in Rwanda and beyond.

Mr. Maxwell Gomera

The Resident Representative at UNDP Rwanda, i

Maxwell Gomera, the Resident Representative at UNDP Rwanda, is a resource economist with over 20 years’ experience in nature conservation and agricultural development. He has worked on economic development issues, including being part of a team that developed the ‘Global Green New Deal’ for reviving the global economy and boosting employment in response to the financial and economic crisis of 2008. Max is a Senior Fellow of Aspen New Voices. He is an accomplished writer and has written for many National and Global mainstream media. Max is married and has two daughters and a son – they all love Arsenal Football Club.

Mr. Will Wilson Wilson

Author and Photographer

Following an extensive career in the British military and private sector on global security operations and analysis, Will moved to Rwanda with his family in early 2021. This allowed him to engage with his underlying passion for photography and wildlife. To create better photographs Will has immersed himself in Rwanda’s birdlife, studied avian biology and physiology and consulted widely. As his passion has continued to grow Will has been a happy to share it with others through his writing, photography workshops, print sales, presentations, events, and social media - @2wsphotography. Will has collaborated on conservation projects with the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association, supported the wetland restoration of Kigali City’s Nyandungu Eco-Park and documented the work of Gorilla Doctors.

Ms. Aimee Muziranenge

Gender and Governance Expert

Aimee is a distinguished professional with over 15 years of expertise in Gender, Governance, and Development Finance. Has held pivotal roles in Government, International Organizations, and Civil Society Organizations. Notably, she served as the Advisor to Rwanda's Chief Gender Monitor advised prestigious International Organizations on gender transformative agenda including Care International, CHF, and IntraHealth International. Aimee also played instrumental roles at SOS Children's Villages Rwanda, serving as Director of Partnerships and Funds Development, and Ag. Country Director. Her leadership extends to the United Nations, where she recently spearheaded Partnerships and Development Finance in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator. Aimee has left an indelible mark on multiple boards, including Profemme Twese Hamwe, Rwanda's Umbrella of Women Organization where she served as Vice Chairperson.

Ms. Cécile BILLAUX

Head of Unit E2 – Trade, Investment Climate, Entrepreneurship, Raw Materials & Value Chains European Commission (DG INTPA)

Cécile BILLAUX has been working for the European Commission for more than 15 years, holding various positions in health, climate, development, and trade. She is now the Head of Unit E2 in DG INTPA, in charge of Trade, Investment Climate, Entrepreneurship, Raw Materials & Value Chains. Before that, Cécile BILLAUX worked for the Cabinet of Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan and was previously Head of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Unit in DG TRADE, European Commission. She also worked as Deputy Head of Unit in charge of Agriculture and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) issues in DG TRADE where she contributed to removing barriers to trade for exports of agriculture products in third countries. In addition, Cécile BILLAUX worked in the Cabinet of the former EU Trade Commissioner, She is French and studied political sciences. She also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Ms. Diane Ineza

Social Media Specialist.

"Diane Ineza is a devoted mother of two and a Social Media expert. She has over seven years of experience as a Digital Communications Coordinator, with expertise in social media, web management, public relations, and corporate events. Diane has a Networking and System Administration degree and holds certifications as a Digital Marketing Associate from the Digital Marketing Institute and event manager from Divine School Africa. In her professional journey, Diane is recognized for her attention to detail and unwavering commitment to excellence. She excels in problem-solving and collaborative team environments, consistently delivering remarkable outcomes. Diane's career is propelled by a strong commitment to continual learning and personal growth, viewing challenges as opportunities to evolve. Beyond her professional endeavors, Diane is also a trained lay counselor,

Ms. Immy Mulekatete

Communications Enthusiast and Story Teller.

Immy Mulekatete is a passionate Media and Communications for Development Enthusiast. She has over 10 years of experience in print and broadcast journalism and communication, as well as program management in the Great Lakes Region. She champions conversations and behavioral change in societal aspects through storytelling for impact. Immy earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Makerere University Kampala in Uganda and an executive master’s degree in development policies and practices from Graduate Institute Geneva in Switzerland.

Ms. Sherrie Silver

Sherrie Silver - MTV Award winning choreographer, UN IFAD Advocate & Founder of Sherrie Silver Foundation

Alongside her work with the United Nations IFAD and WHO, Sherrie Silver runs a charity that empowers young Africans to lift themselves out of poverty using their talents. Together, they also provide rescue rehabilitation services, and other basic needs such as nutrition, education, school fees, and accommodation in Rwanda, Uganda, and Nigeria.